Friday, April 10, 2009

Choosing a Copywriter

What do you charge? That's often the first question a prospective client asks a copywriter, but it should instead be the last question.

Not that it isn't valid - of course you need to know if you can afford this person's services - but until you ask some other questions, it's irrelevant.

Ideally, before you begin contacting writers, you should have some idea of reasonable copywriting fees, along with a budget for your project. If you really have no idea, do a search for copywriting fees - some writers do post their fee list on line. You can also visit copywriter forums and just ask "What's an average price that I might expect to pay for a sales letter or a page of web copy?"

But back to what you need to know before you ask the price:

1. Does the writer have experience writing for your field? This doesn't have to be precise, but the same general area, at least. Think food, natural health, real estate, automotive, technology, consumer goods, etc.

Is he or she familiar with the kind of work you do and the terminology that you might need to use in your copy? It matters - a lot. For instance, I would turn down a project that called for writing about the stock market, because I simply don't know the language. Another writer might find it easy to write.

Does he or she usually write for the Business to Consumer market, or the Business to Business market? Many writers can switch easily from one to the other, but some cannot. I write for one client who had decided to "give up on copywriters" entirely after he mistakenly hired a man who specializes in writing about business to business industrial equipment. His style and consumer understanding simply did not "fit" with selling a men's "beauty" product.

If you're searching for a fundraising copywriter, you'll want to know that the person you choose is somewhat familiar with your cause. One person might be excellent at writing for animal rescue and dismal at writing for a church group or a literacy campaign.

2. Can you see samples of past work? You need to do this so you can decide if this writer's natural style is compatible with your own. Since good copy is conversational, can the writer create a "conversation" that sounds like you? They don't have to match your tone exactly, but they do need to be able to mimic it.

3. Do those samples show that the writer understands basic "buying (or giving) psychology" and writes to tap into the emotions that motivate?

4. When you talk with the writer, does he or she seem enthused about what you're doing? Is he curious about your products? Does she ask questions about the business? Does he already support your cause in some way?

5. Does he or she talk to you in language you understand - or toss around a lot of "Hundred dollar words" that sound important but don't mean much to you?

6. And then, a point that many might think unimportant - do you enjoy talking with this person? You'll be working closely for however long it takes to write and possibly revise your copy. Will you look forward to those calls, or dread them?

7. Finally, if the copywriter has passed the first 6 check-points, you need to ask about the cost. If you've gone through those items and have chosen 2 or 3 writers that you think will do an equal job for you, then certainly - choose based on price. Otherwise, talk with the writer and see if you can trim down the project a bit to fit your budget.

Choose your writer based on what he or she can do for you - so that the rest of your time, effort, and money isn't wasted on a campaign that gives no return on your investment.

Marte Cliff is a Freelance Copywriter who specializes in making people feel good about buying products or services, or donating to worthy causes.

She has extensive experience in writing search engine optimized web copy, direct sales letters, postcards, space ad copy, press releases, and more. She is also available for marketing plan creation and editing services.

Read more details here